A good book should be in every traveler's toolkit. Long bus, train, or plane rides can be tedious and provide a lot of "dead" time if you haven't mastered the 10-hour blank stare.
I always enjoy reading books about travel, exotic locations, and living your dreams while traveling. It gives me confidence in what I'm doing and keeps me daydreaming about different places. Even if you aren't planning on traveling, a good travel book can inspire you to do so.
Here are a few of the best travel books that keep us daydreaming:
1. The Alchemist, by Paulo Coelho
2. Unlikely Destinations, by Tony & Maureen Wheeler
3. The Beach, by Alex Garland
This is probably my favorite travel book, aside from The Alchemist. (I like the film, which stars Leonardo DiCaprio, but the book is far superior.) Focused on a group of backpackers, what I love about Garland's tale and their search for the ultimate backpacker paradise is that many of us can identify with Richard and his quest to "do something different and get off the beaten path," but we often realize that very quest is an illusion. It's an entertaining, page-turning story about how backpackers' quest for the "ideal destination" can end up destroying that ideal. This book is fantastic!!
4. Oracle Bones, by Peter Hessler
A novel set in China that spans the late 1990s and early 2000s, it provides an intriguing look at the country's culture, politics, food, and everything in between. For years, the author lived in Beijing, and his observations of daily life are insightful and perceptive. He befriends a Uyghur, one of China's ethnic minorities, and the plot reveals a lot about how China treats its lower-class citizens. We often think of China as monocultural, but this book proves otherwise.
5. Smile When You’re Lying, by Chuck Thompson
This book, written by the slightly jaded Chuck Thompson, is a witty critique of the travel writing industry. Chuck Thompson rails against the glitz of travel magazines, overused euphemisms, and the globalization of Lonely Planet. He claims that travel magazines are nothing more than glorified brochures. All of the good stories — and he includes a few of his own (my favorite was his story about being robbed by Thai schoolgirls) — are left out. The book occasionally meanders, but it never fails to keep me laughing.
Whether you're looking for something to keep you entertained on your next flight or a captivating read to keep you inspired between trips, this list can help! Great books not only entertain us, but they also make us better travelers. They serve as a reminder of why we travel in the first place.
If you want to take your travel reading to the next level, consider joining our travel book club! Once a month, I'll highlight about five amazing books — some oldies, some new — on travel, history, fiction, and anything else I think you'd like! So, if you want book recommendations, simply sign up below. Once a month, I'll send you a list of recommended books based on what I read and enjoyed that month.
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